August 1, 2017

Being a successful agricultural advocate means engaging a broad range of people from all parts of the country and from all different backgrounds of life. This is one of the most important lessons I have learned from my internship this summer at NASDA.

I did not grow up on a farm, and I was not a member of 4H or FFA. Although my mother and many of my uncles work in Michigan agri-business, I never envisioned myself wanting to work within the world of agricultural policymaking. I decided to study Social Relations and Policy at Michigan State University because I knew I was interested in public affairs, and learning about the policymaking process within a liberal arts setting was what I thought would prepare me best for a career in public affairs. It wasn’t until the summer between my sophomore and junior years that I fell in love with agricultural policy.

As a Demmer Scholar, I was placed with the Minority Staff of the U.S. Senate Agriculture ...

Written by Pat Miller, Director of State Government Affairs, American Seed Trade Association (ASTA)

No matter what type of seed you buy, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting. There’s a lot more to buying seed than meets the eye. Quality seed has been bred for specific traits, such as geographic adaptation, disease or insect resistance, physical attributes, or plant function. It has been selected, harvested, cleaned, analyzed, tested, processed, packaged and shipped. Professional seed producers with years of knowledge and expertise have the infrastructure and know-how to ensure you have the best seed to address your specific challenges and concerns.

In addition to the many steps involved in seed production, state and national regulations provide a system of checks and balances to ensure you get your expected product. These laws require accurate labeling and purity standards for seeds in commerce, and prohibit the ...

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) concluded today a regional meeting focused on agricultural trade, regulation, and environmental policy and featuring national and global agriculture leaders.

Idaho Agriculture Director Celia Gould hosted in Sun Valley, Idaho the annual meeting of the Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture (WASDA), which includes agriculture directors from 15 western states and territories.

Gould was pleased to host a historic meeting with Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lawrence MacAulay, who addressed the importance of the agricultural trade relationship enjoyed by the U.S. and Canada. Speaking to trade as the engine of shared prosperity between the two countries, Minister MacAulay called the significant trade relationship strong, balanced and beneficial. He noted that two-thirds of states in the U.S. count Canada as their No. 1 trade partner, and spoke to the opportunities in North American Free Trade Agreement ...

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt recenntly met with local area farmers from Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas to discuss the repeal and clarification of the 2015 Waters of the United States Rule (WOTUS).

With the February Executive Order to revise or rescind the 2015 Waters of the United States Rule, newly appointed EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is taking strides to clarifying this rule by sitting down with agriculturalist across the country to hear their concerns. Administrator Pruitt has traveled to over 15 states, and appeared for a town hall meeting in Guymon, Oklahoma.

More than 90 local farmers and ranchers from the surrounding area attended this town hall meeting Thursday (July 27) at the Hitch Enterprise Annex building.

Administrator Pruitt opened the meeting by sharing his plan for the Environmental Protection Agency and the direction he sees the agency going in the next four years. He is focusing on the process of hearing the concerns of the people and taking this into ...

The Western United States Trade Association (WUSATA) executive board visited Myanmar and Malaysia last month to determine future trade opportunities. The visit provide the board with an opportunity to learn more about Malaysia and Myanmar (Burma) markets, build business relationships, or continue to develop existing business relationships.

Southeast Asia is one of the fastest growing areas in the world with a regional GDP expected to reach approximately $1.9 trillion in 2020. According to USDA, “Malaysia purchased nearly $1 billion worth of agricultural products from the United States during the 2014 fiscal year. Overall, U.S. farm and food exports to the country have grown 78 percent in the past five years.” Exports to Myanmar also present a growth opportunity for U.S. exporters. With a population of over 50 million people and a growing economy, Myanmar’s emerging market is expected to see an increase in purchasing power that will drive demand for imports.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently announced that $1 million in competitive grant funding is available for the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer). This program supports the efforts of states, tribal governments, and research institutions to promote the domestic maple syrup industry.

Activities eligible for support include: promotion of research and education related to maple syrup production; promotion of natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry; market promotion for maple syrup and maple-sap products; encouragement of owners and operators of privately held land containing species of trees in the genus Acer to initiate or expand maple-sugaring activities on the land or to voluntarily make the land available, including by lease or other means, for access by the public for maple-sugaring activities.

Please review the Request for Applications on the AMS website for details about ...

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